Help me pick an Enlarger

[tossik]

Hi there, its me again with enlarger questions.. Sorry to all to keep asking all these questions but finding answers online is same to none.

well i still didnt get an enlarger, the ilford 500 sold the day i called to get it, so i continued my quest. i found new enlargers and dont know what is good.

i asked earlier in a post if a omega d5XL was good, he wants 150 for it. i got a link here for his craigslist post. " http://eugene.craigslist.org/pho/390131234.html "

I posted a ad that im looking for an enlarger and got this:

" I have two enlargers for sale, a Nikor 67 (for 35mm and 6x7cm) and a
Beseler 45H for larger format (4x5).

The Nikor is new, unused, and comes with both negative carriers (35mm
and 6x7cm), two Nikkor EF lenses to accommodate the both formats, and
the original manual and enlarger cover. This enlarger is mounted, has
been tested, and is ready to use, and looks great. Asking price is $150
for everything listed above.

The Beseler 45H is for larger format up to 4x5. It is an older model,
well built, is larger and heavy, will tilt for vertical as well as
horizontal imaging, comes with the lens board but no lens (readily
available), and has a 4x5 negative carrier. And it too has been tested
and is in working condition. Price is $100. "

The BW cold light head Omega with several lenses on a turret is still available for 150 in my area, here is the link to it with a picture " http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pho/392231313.html "

i really like the d5xl cuz its big and can make the pics 20x24, but i dont know it the head is good for it or not, would any other one be better pick?

any help would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks Tolik.

 

[DeanC]

Does the D5XL have the condenser and is it in good shape? If it is, I'd go with that. Add a negative carrier or two from eBay and you're good to go.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'd give the guy with the D5 with cold light a call, to check what lenses/carriers are coming with the enlarger. That's a terrific price for that combo, and if the cold light head is in good shape, it's a terrific light source to use. You could also do well with one of his Omegas with color head. I've long used color heads for variable contrast printing, as you can use the yellow and magenta filter sets to adjust the printing grade, with very fine gradations possible (1/8th grade contrast changes, anyone? )

 

[Peter De Smidt]

I'd avoid the Nikor. I used to have one, and it was very difficult keeping everything aligned.

 

[Paul Howell]

You need to find out what cold light. Omega produced a cold light for the D models, just a florsent ring, is too dim for 35mm. If it is a newer aftermarket cold light with a tube grid and good power supply I agree the D 5 is a great find.

 

[tossik]

is the cold light good? if it is then why? im new at this so i dont understand the difference....

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

A cold light is a diffuse light source. It is, also, as the name implies, "cold". Cold in the relative sense- it is a fluorescent tube, rather than an incandescent bulb.

The advantages to a cold light head are that because the tube does not put out nearly as much heat as an incandescent bulb, if you need to make longer exposures, your negative is less likely to heat up and "pop" (expand/contract) and shift out of focus during the exposure. Also, because it is a diffuse light source, small dust particles and scratches on the negative are less likely to show up in the print.

Cold light heads consequently are a little less contrasty than condenser heads. IMHO this is not a bad thing, as it is only a slight decrease if any in real-world terms, and is easily compensated for by adding a little magenta filtration.

 

[Paul Howell]

Some folks love cold light, some hate cold light. Cold light uses a neon or florsent bulb, very diffuse, not quite as sharp as a condenser, less contract, does not show as much dust. Ansal Adams recommened cold light. I have a D3 with an Omga cold light and a condenser head. I use the cold light for 4X5 and 6X9, but I perfer the condenser for 35mm. The Omgea cold light is 40 or 50 years old, just too dim for 35mm. New aftemarket heads have a grid, brighter tubes and work well with 35mm.

 

[Nick Zentena]

I'd go with the Beseler. You'll need neg carriers for the smaller formats but they are still sold new and used are fairly common. The same thing with the lensboard.

What formats are you printing?

I doubt the Beseler would have any problems with 20x24. Plus from the sound of it the head tilts for wall projection -)